C08
People around us murmured in low voices or hid their faces in surprise. These whispers only made Mia more confident in her victory.
In her eyes, I must be feeling utterly humiliated at this moment.
The violin had been thrown to the ground, its strings broken and the neck damaged. It was clear it had been deliberately ruined, so playing it was now impossible.
I glanced at the group leader and shook my head. Mia, no longer trying to conceal her smugness, wore a smile that oozed self–assurance. The gleam of success in her eyes was unmistakable.
—
“It’s such a pity,” she said, lowering her head to take the instrument from her case. With a triumphant look, she approached me and said playfully, “Coach Claire, I guess I’ll be taking your place today.”
The tension in her words was palpable and even the faint rustling sounds around us seemed to vanish in an instant.
“Are you worthy, though?”
I kicked the damaged violin toward her feet. Her face paled as the impact hit her.
Those provocative, mocking and contemptuous words instantly sank deep.
“Find me a spare violin Don’t worry”
4:13 PM
Love Does Not Wait Forever
“Find me a spare violin. Don’t worry.”
After hearing my answer, the group leader finally breathed a sigh of relief rushed calling for people to make preparations.
Mia, though still wearing a smile, could not hide the sarcasm in her voice. “The new violin needs tuning. Even
you, Coach Claire, can’t make it work…”
“It is you who can’t make it work,” I said coolly. Stepping closer, I raised the corners of my lips and met her gaze.
She stood a head taller than me, but at that moment, I made her feel small.
“After all, I did say it before that you’re a woman without talent.”
Mia’s smile faltered, the corners of her mouth twitching. Her eyes narrowed in fury as if she wanted to tear me
apart.
I knew her too well. She was a woman of mediocre talent, someone who took advantage of others‘ skills and
coveted things that did not belong to her.
The slap came fast, but I caught her wrist with one hand.
“Mia, I don’t fall for the same trick twice. I know you so well, but you don’t even understand me.”
Her hands trembled, but my hold remained unyielding.
“Also,” I leaned in closer, my voice whispering, “You do know there’s a CCTV camera in the background, right?”
Mia completely lost her composure. Her hand slipped, causing her to lose her balance and stagger to the
ground.
I looked at her, dejected and helpless, a far cry from her earlier arrogance.
For a moment, I felt a wave of sympathy, pity for her overestimation of herself and pity for her self–deception.
She had been so wrapped up in her so–called victory that she had not realized her every word and action had
been caught on the CCTV cameras.
Just then, Lennon arrived and when he saw the scene between Mia and me, he already understood.
He frowned, pulling Mia away with an almost visible distaste as if he was seeing her for the first time.
As he passed me, he turned back with a slight gesture.
“Claire, don’t let her affect us.
Us?
I glanced at Lennon, feeling a bitter amusement rise within me.
He had sacrificed Mia to express his affection for me, but the way he did it was so petty and despicable.
Still, I smiled and responded, “Okay.”
But I knew what he truly meant. It could not affect “our proposal ceremony.”
The performance was unexpectedly powerful, the orchestra playing several more pieces to thunderous applause and cries of “bravo” from the audience.
When the conductor made a silent gesture, I felt a surge of excitement I could not explain.
帶
His words, combined with the energy the members had built, felt like an electric current surging through me,
silent yet thrilling.
It was not until Lennon appeared on the other side of the stage, holding a bouquet of flowers, that the surreal feeling began to fade.
A faint silver glimmer caught my eye. It was his cuffs.
It was the pair of cufflinks I had thrown away right in front of his face.
Slowly, Lennon walked toward me, knelt down on one knee and proposed using the oldest and most sacred
